Tameside College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings

This is a good provider Senior leaders and managers have developed and implemented an 'excellence in learning framework', which communicates clearly to staff the standards of teaching that are expected.

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is now good on most courses, especially at the sixth-form centre. Governance is highly effective. Governors support and challenge senior leaders to improve the quality of courses.

Senior leaders and managers are focused and relentless in their pursuit of high-quality provision for all students and apprentices. Senior leaders have rectified successfully most of the weaknesses that were identified at the previous inspection. Achievements... are now high on the vast majority of courses for 16- to 18-year-olds, students who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, apprentices, and adults.

Students and apprentices show high levels of respect and tolerance for each other, their teachers and visitors. Most students' behaviour is very good. Where it is not of the expected standard, staff quickly challenge it.

A significant proportion of students now achieve high grades on level 3 courses. Current students on A-level and vocational courses and apprentices make good progress. The vast majority of students progress to further study, higher education or employment.

Most apprentices gain permanent employment with their employer following completion of their programme. Attendance rates, while improved overall, remain low in English and mathematics lessons, for adults and in a minority of study programmes. Leaders and managers have not yet addressed successfully all the weaknesses in teaching, learning and assessment.

Too many current students on hairdressing, health and social care, and information and communication technology (ICT) courses do not make the expected progress and achieve their qualifications. In the current year, too many apprentices on electro-technical programmes and joinery and accounting courses make slow progress and do not achieve by their planned end date.

Information about the provider

Tameside College was formed in 1998 following the merger between Tameside College of Technology and Hyde Clarendon Sixth Form College.

The college has two main centres, both situated in Ashton-under-Lyne. The sixth-form centre opened in 2015. The number of students in Tameside schools achieving GCSE grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C) in both English and mathematics, although improved, is below the national rate.

The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside has a population of approximately 222,000. The unemployment rate for the Tameside region is slightly above that for the North West region and above the national average. Of these residents, 33% have a qualification lower than NVQ at level 2 and the number achieving an NVQ at level 4 is below the North West and national averages.